Zara Sykes

Zara Sykes - Bust portrait
Name Zara Sykes
Alias N/A
D.O.B. July 17 / Cancer
Age 26
Sex / Gender Female / Female
Orientation Heterosexual
Eye Color Light Gray
Hair Color Dark Purple / Silver/Grey Ombré
Height 5'9" (5'10" with boots)
Weight 129 lbs.

Likes


  • Sharp lines + silhouettes
  • Peanut butter & bananas (her favorite snack!)
  • White chocolate peppermint hot cocoa
  • Winter fashion
  • Crystals + gemstones (usually in the form of jewelry)
  • The smell of pine

Dislikes


  • Hospitals
  • Philosophy and theory (being Resurrected1 made these topics uncomfortable)
  • Deep, open water (but is trying to overcome the thalassophobia)
  • Hooded sweatshirts/jackets
  • Howling/whistling wind
    Extraverted Introverted
  • Intuitive Observant
  • Thinking Feeling
  • Judging Prospecting
  • Assertive Turbulent

*MBTI results and explanations referenced from test results provided by 16personalities.com.

    Friendly Reserved
  • Serious Immature
  • Brave Timid
  • Organized Messy
  • High-Strung Relaxed
  • Wise Ignorant
  • Independent Dependent
    Optimistic Cynical
  • Polite Snarky
  • Cautious Impulsive
  • Sincere Deceptive
  • Diligent Lazy
  • Focused Scatter-brained
  • Emotional Dispassionate

Biography

Macro shot of a hand holding a small, frosted branch/plant.
  • Since Xaerians1 are the embodiment of their element, Zara's skin and body temperature are cooler than average / can manipulate the heat in the space around her (which is how she keeps from overheating)
    • Zara has noticed that she has less of an appetite than the average person, which makes sense given her slightly lower body temperature than average
  • Power over her element is so fine-tuned that she can freeze moisture on an individual's skin; also has the ability (through calmed concentration) to freeze whatever she places her hands on
  • Fond of silvery/grey hairstyles; will ombré her hair every so often with colors other than her default hairstyle
  • Barbell nipple piercings
  • Youngest of two (Freya Sykes is her sister, who is five years older)
  • Extraverted, but calmly so — she's the friend/guest who's just happy to be there with you, but doesn't make a whole scene about it
  • Voiceclaim: Troian Bellisario

[ WIP/Draft ]

At the end of November in 2005, Zara and her sister Freya visited a local frozen lake to play and ice skate. Although the adults would always warn local children that the ice can thin in non-winter months, Freya — being a confident teenager — reassures Zara that the two of them will be fine. They go a few hours before sunset to enjoy the quiet and the view, but the two of them venture too far into the middle of the lake. As Zara begins to panic, she falls quite a few times, and Freya watches helplessly as she falls one time too many and winds up going through the ice. Freya tries to reach her sister, but can’t get close enough without risking cracking more ice or falling through herself. She screams at the top of her lungs as Zara begins to sink, and she runs for help—but at that point it’s too late. Zara’s body begins to shut down from the freezing water as Freya desperately seeks aid, and Zara drowns.

Regardless of the successful retrieval her body, the Sykes take a moment to mourn their youngest. Freya, overtaken with guilt, suggests bringing her sister’s body to the Xaerii2 village so that she might be revived — or at least blessed. Her parents agree, and they wrap Zara’s frigid body in blankets as they transport her carefully. Having been moved by the family's plight, an incoming Xaerii villager ushers the family through the gates to the village. One of the Seers performs a Hol’locie Resurrection3 on her, but at the price of the Sykes’ daughter becoming the new vessel for the recently loosed Ice Xaerian. The Sykes agree, just wishing for their daughter to return, and Khokori is summoned to preside over the ritual. Successful in their endeavors, the Xaerii are able to resurrect the drowned child. Imbued with the essence of the Ice Xaerian, Zara almost perishes again from her lowered body temperature, but they’re able to keep her conscious and warm her up enough for her to survive. The Xaerii keep watch over Zara in the village over the next week as they monitor her, her family being given a temporary pass to enter the sacred land to visit their daughter. Once she’s able to function once more without necessary supervision, the Sykes offer volunteer time to repay the Xaerii for their miracle. The three are tasked with helping villagers, while Zara — moved by Khokori’s diligence and good nature — asks to help her specifically. Feeling for the youth after having been put into a similar situation early on in her own life, Khokori agrees on the condition that she help Zara commune with her Xaerian to keep it safe.

[Coming Soon!]

[ Cryomancy ]

The Ice Xaerian has given Zara the ability to manipulate heat energy in the space around her; this ability has become so fine-tuned from her communion with her Xaerian that she has the ability to freeze moisture on an individual's skin. She also has the ability, through calmed concentration, to freeze anything she places her hands on.

As a result of the cryomancy and Xaerian's presence within her, Zara's body temperature is cooler than average. She keeps from overheating by passively manipulating the heat energy that lies within a close perimeter to her body.

Although she has fine-tuned the abilities she possesses, Zara is still unable to command or manifest ice at will (as of yet).

[ Ice Shuriken ]

[ Unofficial / WIP ]
Zara's Xaerian has blessed her with a giant shuriken star made of below-zero crystallized ice. Given Zara's ability to manipulate the heat around her, the shuriken is more or less immune to melting; it never dulls, and its sub zero temperature makes the edges feel even sharper. Zara is the only one capable of wielding/touching this weapon, as she is the only one who is unaffected by the temperature of the ice.

[ Xaerian ]

Having been revived via The Resurrection, Zara became the next available host for the Ice Xaerian—and she became its new vessel.

Health

3 / 5 Stars

Attack

3 / 5 Stars

Defense

2.5 / 5 Stars

Accuracy

3 / 5 Stars

Stealth

2 / 5 Stars

Speed

2.5 / 5 Stars

Stamina

4 / 5 Stars

Luck

3 / 5 Stars

I... vividly remember drowning. The light growing further away; my consciousness fading. It's a terrible thing, death.

Affiliates

Freya Sykes
Freya Sykes - AlohaSushiCore's Picrew Maker

Freya Sykes

[ Older Sister ]

Freya Sykes is older than Zara by five years. After Zara's fatal accident at a local lake, Freya felt fully responsible for her sister's death. Desperate for her to come back, she suggests thata her family take her to the nearby Xaerii village to see if they can Resurrect her. The Xaerii are successful in Resurrecting Freya's sister, but she—even to this day—still feels responsible for Zara's death.

The two were close prior to Zara's death, but Freya never took a day with her sister for granted after she was resurrected. The two have remained very close over the years—they talk at least once every day or so over the phone.

Khokori Pax-Esheway

Khokori Pax-Esheway

[ "Mentor" ]

Shortly after having froze and drowned, Zara was brought by her parents to the Xaerii village. Although Khokori herself did not perform the Resurrection ritual, she was there to supervise. After being revived, Zara inherited the Ice Xaerian. As someone who shared a similar history, Khokori felt for Zara's situation—and offered solace for the young bearer. Although the two never grew close "personally", Zara grew to admire Khokori — and Khokori grew to enjoy Zara's presence and aid. Zara's communion with her Xaerian was achievable solely by Khokori's guidance and teachings.

Mood Board

(Be sure to also check out Zara's inspiration board on Pinterest!)

Cold, ungloved hand holding a delicate icicle.
A hand reaching out above the quiet, dark surface of water while the subject 'drowns'.
A plaintive woman whose hair has been swept across her face by chilly winter winds.
Pensive shot of a climber/adventurer's legs as they stand atop a rock, surveying the landscape below.
Top-down view of teal water littered with broken ice.
Profile view of a woman with a curled, silver ombré bob haircut.
Delicate, feminine hands touching a snow-covered tree.
Top-down photo of an individual dressed for winter standing in the snow.
Macro shot of a hand holding a small, frosted branch/plant.
Anonymous shot (nose-down) of a woman with breeze-blown blonde hair.
Large decorative jar filled with a miscellaneous peanut butter and banana parfait.
A snow-swept 'Dead End' sign standing in solitude against a frigid white landscape.
Abstract, refracted shot of an individual submerged in water.
Confident female dressed in preppy streetwear posing for the camera on granite steps.
Macro shot of the rope laces on a pair of brown suede/soft leather boots.
A circular slab of ice preserving a flowered branch, held up to a light source.

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